The No Touch Theory

These methods of Second Dealing are based on the theory that if the top card is handled in such a way that the right hand's dealing thumb cannot come in contact with it, then the dealing of the second card is practically assured.

A study of the various techniques to be described will impress the practitioner of the ease with which the Second Deal can be accomplished. Matter of fact, one may have to spend more time learning how to deal the top card rather than the second one.

Figure 205 1st Technique:

1. Hold the deck in the left hand as in Figure 205 with all four left fingertips against the right side of the deck. The left thumb is at extreme upper right corner and practically touching the left forefinger. The position of the left thumb is important. The pack's lower

Figure 205 1st Technique:

1. Hold the deck in the left hand as in Figure 205 with all four left fingertips against the right side of the deck. The left thumb is at extreme upper right corner and practically touching the left forefinger. The position of the left thumb is important. The pack's lower left corner should be in the Master Grip. The left thumb must retain its position at all times whether the top or second card is taken.

2, Now with the left thumb, arc the top card as shown in Figure 206. If you place your right thumb onto the exposed second card at the upper right corner, you will find that the right thumb is only able to contact this sec-

Figure 206

Figure 206

3. Figure 206 shows the exposed action. Actually the top card is not arced over until the right thumb comes into the position shown in Figure 207. The Figure 207 shows a portion of the second card; however, the presence of the right thumb will actually conceal this condition. Remember that the right thumb is placed above the left thumb before any arcing of the top card takes place.

4. At this stage the right thumb is above the left. The right 1st and 2nd fingertips touch the backs of the left 1st and 2nd fingers at about the second joints. The right 3rd and 4th fingers are curled inwards towards palm.

5. The right thumb moves downwards for the take and at the same time the left thumb arcs the top card over to the right, thus the right thumb can only contact the second card.

6. As the second card is taken there will be a downward pressure, with the right thumb on the second card, and an upward pressure of the right 1st and 2nd fingers against the back of the left 1st and 2nd fingers. This causes

the second card to be moved out more readily and to finish with the right thumb and fingers meeting in order to grasp the second card, which by now is over the side of the deck.

The Figure 208 shows the second card coming out. It is held with the right thumb on top, 1st and 2nd fingers below. The tip of the right first finger is under the front end of the card while the tip of right second finger is on the upper index corner of the card. Thus the fingers are in position for a sail of the card.

7. A repetition of the movements and you will continue to get the second card, simply because it is impossible to get the top one. Left thumb retains its position, at the extreme right corner of

Figure 209

the deck, at all times. The left fingers, against the side of the deck, gradually work down as the deck diminishes during the deal. This insures control of the top cards as well as the seconds during the dealing action.

8. To deal a top card, with the left thumb in the identical position, a slight difference is made in pushing over the top card. Instead of arcing the top card the left thumb pushes it slightly forward so its top edge moves forward over the front end of the deck. This movement is very slight but is exaggerated in Figure 209 for clarity.

9. Now, because of the top card's for

ward position, you will be able to take only the top card. Do this with the right thumb in the identical position shown in Figure 207. When a Second Deal is required the left thumb arcs the top card inwards, so the right thumb can again take only the second card.

10. In taking the top or second card, with the right thumb, some may prefer to use the ball of the thumb during the deal while others may prefer to use the inner side of the thumb. By using the inner side of the thumb, closest to the operator, a finer brief can be obtained, The point of contact is that shown in Figure 210.

11. Using this type of second it is easier to deal the card forwards off the deck rather than straight off to the side. Either technique will become easy with practice, even a deal to take the card back towards the performer. The sail is a natural for use with this deal.

The following method has great visual deception but alas, theyiust know you're doing a phony deal. This is just as bad as seeing it exposed when it comes to the point of actual deception.

2nd Technique:

2nd Technique:

Figure 211

1. For this the left thumb is moved to position B (See Figure 192) near the upper edge of the top card, at about the center. The left four fingers are against the right side of the deck acting as gauges to prevent more than one card coming off either during a top deal or a second deal.

2. The right thumb now contacts the top card by moving in until its tip touches the tip of the left thumb as shown in Figure 211. The other fingers

Figure 212

are in a similar positions as in the 1st Technique; however, only the right forefinger is extended, touching the back of the left forefinger.

3. The left thumb pushes the top card forward and to the right, very slightly, just enough to climb over the left fingertips. At the same time, the right thumb and second finger nip the top card to take it off the deck,

4. When it is required to second deal, the right thumb moves in front of the left thumb. At the same time the left thumb arcs the top card over to expose the second card. This is when the right

thumb comes in contact with the second card as per Figure 212.

5. Once more it is possible to take only the second card because the left thumb's position on the top card prevents any contact with it by the right thumb. The Figure 212 is not exaggerated as actually a very fine brief is possible using this method.

6. The second card comes out, to the side, being taken by the right thumb

6. The second card comes out, to the side, being taken by the right thumb

Figure 24, C

above, and 2nd finger below. The 2nd finger is curled in towards the palm on the bottom while the right forefinger lies across the card's top edge. The Figure 213 shows the second card coming out with the right hand fingers in correct position on the card.

Figure 24, C

above, and 2nd finger below. The 2nd finger is curled in towards the palm on the bottom while the right forefinger lies across the card's top edge. The Figure 213 shows the second card coming out with the right hand fingers in correct position on the card.

7. This technique, like the first, enables you to deal straight off to the right or forward as well as sail the cards. Note: See this technique as applied to Mario's Strike Unit Control.

3rd Technique:

1. This is exactly like the Second Technique except that the left thumb is placed at the far left outer corner of the deck as in Figure 24, position C, repeated here.

2. To take the top card, the right thumb takes it in exactly the same manner as in Figure 211 except it will go in further on the deck due to the left thumb being at the far left

Figure 23

thumb moves in front of the left thumb exactly as shown in Figure 212 except, again due to left thumb being at position C, the right thumb will be practically across the top end of the deck during the deal.

Figure 214

4. With this change in grip of the deck, there will be less noise noticeable in this technique as compared to the first.

No Touch Stud Deal

Using the No Touch Theory, here is a very effective Second Deal of the Stud Type which also has a very fine brief during the deal.

1. The pack is held in the left hand

with all four fingers at the right side o: the deck. The left forefinger is near the upper right corner at position 3 from Figure 23, repeated here.

The left thumb extends, across the pack, with its tip coming to a point between the left 1st and 2nd fingertips, The deck's lower left corner can be either in the Master Grip position or Mechanic's Grip. The Figure 214 shows lower left corner in Mechanic's Grip.

2. The left thumb pushes the top card forward over the end of the deck very slightly. At the same instant, the right hand approaches, palm down, to extend its first and second fingers across the top of the left thumb as in Figure 215. The right 3rd and 4th fingers are also extended but are below the left forefinger. The right thumb is under the right 1st and 2nd fingers

and cannot be seen in Figure

3. The right hand now takes off the top card. The right 1st and 2nd fingers press down on the projecting top card, and carry it off to the right. The right 3rd finger comes up to nip the upper right corner, of the top card, between the right 2nd and 3rd fingers. As the card clears the pack, the right thumb comes up, against the face of the card to turn it face up in Stud fashion.

4. The above action is the top card deal. Now to deal a second. As the right fingers come across the left thumb, as

Figure 217

shown in Figure 215, the left thumb arcs the top card downwards to the right. Due to the angle caused by the right fingers going over the top of the left thumb, the right 2nd fingertip can only come in contact with the exposed second card. This is shown in Figure 216 but exaggerated for clarity as actually a very fine brief is possible.

5. The right second finger at about the first joint, hits the exposed second card to the right, thus carrying it from under the top card. Immediately the right 3rd finger comes up to nip the upper right corner of the card between

Figure 218

top card back flush with the deck.

7. A repetition of the actions described will result in succeeding second deals or top card deals depending on which you wish to do at the time.

8. There are some that may prefer to strike out the second card with the right 3rd finger, thus carrying the card away held between 3rd and 4th fingers of right hand as shown in Figure 218 which depicts the Second Deal in action. Note that the right hand actually gives more cover. The card has to be carried forward rather than off to the side in both instances but more so in this case.

9. The important point to remember is

Figure 218

the 2nd and 3rd fingers. Figure 217 shows the second deal in action.

6. The second card is carried away from the deck, then the right thumb turns it face up in the identical manner as were the cards dealt previously. The left thumb has meantime swung the to get the proper angle to the right fingers. This angle, if correct, will not allow you to easily take the top card for a fair deal unless it is pushed slightly forward over the end of the deck.

Also, if the angle is you will only be able to take the second card if the top card is pulled or arced inwards. The right fingers will miss the top card and contact only the second or exposed card.